Hanley Ramirez sits out 5-3 setback to Phillies because of calf injury

Team has been downplaying severity of injuries this season

Dodgers continue to be plagued by defensive problems

Hanley Ramirez didn't play Saturday in the Dodgers' 5-3 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies, as he was a late scratch from the lineup with what was said to be sore left calf muscle.

That could be significant. Or not.

Considering it's the Dodgers who are involved, it's impossible to tell.

In the hours following Alex Guerrero's in-game altercation with triple-A teammate Miguel Olivo this week, a high-ranking team official implied the Cuban infielder didn't sustain injuries that would require him to miss any games.

Whatever the truth, Ramirez hasn't looked this year the way he did last year. His defensive range has diminished. The Dodgers' No. 3 hitter, he is batting .250 with seven home runs and 24 runs batted in.

Aside from his calf problem, Ramirez has lingering shoulder and back issues for which he continues to receive treatment. He injured his thumb April 26.

Even though Arruebarrena is considered an upgrade over Ramirez as a fielder, the Dodgers continued to be plagued by defensive problems Saturday.

With one out and one on in the first inning, Chase Utley hit a high popup that was dropped by catcher A.J. Ellis in foul territory. Utley sent Dan Haren's next pitch into the right-field stands, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead.

Ellis blamed himself.

"I just missed it," Ellis said. "Just a bad defensive play by me. I put our team in a bad spot. You can't give a team extra outs, you can't give a Hall of Fame-caliber hitter an extra swing."

As for the Dodgers' second error, the team said the umpires were responsible.

Haren fielded a dribbler by Ben Revere in the fifth inning, but his throw to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez went wide. The ball sailed into foul territory down the right-field line, allowing Revere to reach third.

Revere scored on a groundout by Jimmy Rollins to extend the Phillies' lead to 5-2.

"When I got the ball, he was definitely inside the line," Haren said. "I didn't really have anywhere to throw. I made a really bad throw, but in hindsight, I probably should have just thrown it at him and hit him with the ball. Then I think umpires will call it more often than not. If you just throw it wide, a lot of times the umpires will not call it."